Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-03
nd Turner southall chamberlain 0

nnu lukutf pOutDaii cHhmDettnih ~
the city.
The corporate limits OF the city al
that time covered very nearly the same
grounds ms were contained within the
city up to 1867, when they we're sx'
tended.
Soon after entering upon the dis
charge OF the duties OF their office the
members of the Common Hall contrI,
bnted 800 each for the purpose o.
erecting arbors around the market
house.
Joseph Daley was appointed public
butcher, but he refused to serve.
Joseph Watkins was elected surveyor
oLD-rnfE LAWS.
An ordinance was passed prohibiting
the erection of houses on Main street
OF less than ten feet pitch, or OF any
sheds at right angles Herewith. An
gust II, 1852, "water-engine" wa.
purchased from Mrs. Byrd for ESQ, and
1t was ordered that wells be sunk IN va
rious sections Of the city. AT this ses
sion OF the Common Hall nineteen per
sons who had "not obtained a lega
residence in the city" were ruled &c
appear before that body to show why
they should not give security, &c.
The following will account for the
slowness with which the city increased
in population:
"August 81, 1882. On motion Of
Mr.. Hunter, it is ordered that every
person DESTROYS of settling in this city,
or the liberties thereof, shall apply to
the Mayor and give an account OF his
name, profession, and last place OF re-
sidence, and find security for his good
behavior during his residence, II re-
CURED by the Mayor"
The conditions of the bonds were
that the persons from whom they were
required should he OF good behavior.
not become q parish charge, and pay
Hcir 'G@es.
TAXATION, &C.
The rate of taxation was fixed at !
per cent. on improved and one hall OF
/ Der cent. on unimproved lots. The
CITY was divided into four "ward-
shius," numbered from west to east. a
census was taken this year, when there
were found within the city SOB white
pcrtoIs, 400 colored slaves, and 90 free
colored-total, 1,031. The names OF
all the white persons-men, women,
and children, with the places OF their
residence, are recorded in Minute Book
No. l of the records Of the common
hall.
UUsTINGs COURT.
"The Court of Hastings" consisting
OF the mayor, recorder, and four alder
men, was organized July 3, 1882. Adam
Craig was elected clerk +; George Rich
ardson, sergeant; Stephen Tankard,
public auctioneer Robert Rawlings,
clerk OF the market ; Frederick Thomas,
Williom Cooke, and Richard Bowler
constables; and Dabney Miller, Stephen
Tankard, Gabriel Gait, and Samuel
Jones, surveyors OF streets.
A CRUEL SENTENCE.
The first case determined by this tri
bunal was a charge of felony STEALING
n cow against one Will Ga negro be
longing TO the estate of Edward Park
deceased). The record says:
"The said VIII was led TO the BARN custody
CT the sergeant Of this city, 70 whose custody
upon the charge aforesaid he was committed
and. being arraigned OF the premises. he SAT-
be was IN no wise thereof guilty, and Tor MI
trial. according TO the act OF the General A.
sembly in such case made, he put himself
ffo MhnTgIfnnn dlvnrd Witnessed
were sworn, charged, and examined. and th'
said " IN heard In his own defence ; on c0nsl1e
ration whereof II IL the opinion OF the Court ina
the said WIN Is guilty OF grand larceny, an.
that for the said offence he DO burnt In the lei
hand: which being done in the presence of "a
Court, IL is further ordered that ut > O'Clock II
the evening OF this day he be tied 70 the END o
a cart and led through the main street with
pair Of cows horns affixed TO his forehead, an'
receive on his hare back ono hundred laShes, 4
10 we'll laid on which being done, 1t IL or
dered that no he discharged ont OF custody"
This "cruelandunusual Punishment,
now prohibited by our Constitution
was doubtless considered mild III those
days, when the punishment prescribed
by law for the offence was death.
WHERE THE COURT WAS HELD.
This court was usually held at Hen
rico county courthouse, but when th'
General Court was sitting in the build
ing the Court of Hastings adjourned
its sessions to meet at some other place
TO Tankard's, Rawlings's, Bowler's, O
Cats Tavern, or to the Masonic Hal
after its erection same years later.
The clerks Office was in the small
framed building, yet standing, at TIM
northeast corner of Grace and Eigh
teonth streets. Adam Craig was at tina
time deputy clerk of the General Court
and clerk OF the County Court Of Hen
rico, the Cont of Hastings OF the cit,
of Richmond, and of the Common Hall
Ee was then only twenty-five years o
age, and slept over the office, as die
also John Beckley, attorney at law
aged twenty-six, and Charles Hay, ageC
eighteen. John Beckley was clerk o
the House of Delegates, afterward
Mayor Of the city, and the first cleri
april, 1881 of the United States Hous
of Representatives.
Tankards Tavern was diagonally op
posite the county courthouse, Calls a
the northwest corner of Main and Nine
teenth streets, Rawlings's onthe corne
below, and Bowler's near the brldg
over Shockoe creek.
Serafno Formicola, Neapolitan
kept near the southwest corner OF Mai
and Fourteenth streets, and Dabne.
Miller at the southeast corner of Broa'
and Eighth streets.
COUNCIL CHAhiBER-FIRE COMPANY.
Like the Court the Common Hal
was migratory body and met at sue
places as suited the convenience of tn
members. In 1903 q room was pre-
yided over the market-house and titte'
up as a Council chamber.
After the disastrous fire in Richmon
january, 1870 the defenceless condi
ton OF the city aroused the people t
the necessity OF providing some mean
to resist this destructive element. jar
uary %, 1888, "The Fellowship Fir
Company of Richmond" was organ
lied, and among its members were a
of the more prominent men OF the city
FAMOUS MAGISTRATES.
Among those who have occupied tn